Mass. man caught; charged in slayings of family

/ AP

This undated Massachusetts driver license photo released by the Middlesex district attorney's office shows Thomas Mortimer, IV, who is wanted for four counts of murder in the death of his wife, two children and mother-in-law on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Winchester, Mass. (AP Photo/Commonwealth of Massachusetts)

This undated Massachusetts driver license photo released by the Middlesex district attorney's office shows Thomas Mortimer, IV, who is wanted for four counts of murder in the death of his wife, two children and mother-in-law on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Winchester, Mass. (AP Photo/Commonwealth of Massachusetts) (/ AP)

BOB SALSBERG, Associated Press Writer

Authorities in western Massachusetts have captured a man accused of killing his wife, two children and mother-in-law in their suburban Boston home.

The capture of 43-year-old Thomas Mortimer IV on Thursday in Bernardston, about 100 miles from Boston, came just hours after he was charged with four counts of murder.

On Wednesday, Mortimer's 41-year-old wife, Laura; her 64-year-old mother, Ellen Stone; his 4-year-old son, Thomas; and his 2-year-old daughter, Charlotte, were found dead in their Winchester home.

Authorities would not say how the victims died, but District Attorney Gerry Leone described it as a "horrific, disturbing and unspeakable" scene.

Leone's office confirmed the arrest and scheduled a news conference for later Thursday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BOSTON (AP) - A man who recently got a technology sales job after a long period of unemployment was being sought on murder charges after his wife, two children and mother-in-law were found slain inside a home in an upscale Boston suburb - a crime a prosecutor called "horrific, disturbing and unspeakable."

Thomas Mortimer IV, 43, remained unaccounted for. He was charged with four counts of murder, and authorities have issued an arrest warrant for him.

Laura Stone Mortimer, a 41-year-old economist; her 4-year-old son, Thomas Mortimer V; her 2-year-old daughter, Charlotte Mortimer; and her 64-year-old mother, Ellen Stone, were found dead Wednesday at their in home in Winchester, a community north of Boston where the median household income is about $120,000.

Authorities would not say how the victims died, but District Attorney Gerry Leone described it as a "horrific, disturbing and unspeakable" scene.

Mortimer was last seen at his job at M&R Consultants Corp., a Burlington technology consulting firm, on Monday around 6 p.m., said Anil Shah, the company's president.

He had left a message for his supervisor around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to say he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be at work, Shah said. About two hours later, Mortimer told a co-worker he had been up sick all night and would be back at work on Wednesday, Shah said.

Shah said the company had phone problems on Wednesday but Mortimer did not come to work and hasn't been seen since.

Mortimer was a hard worker who had been making progress at his job since getting hired around a month and a half ago, Shah said. Mortimer accepted the position after a long period without a job and took about two weeks to set up his child care, Shah said.

"He was very professional, very nice guy ... always very positive," said Shah. "Somehow my heart doesn't believe he couldn't be involved in anything that he's been charged with."

Laura Mortimer was a senior economist with the Los Angeles-based commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis. The company called her death a tragic loss.

"Laura was a valued and well respected colleague and, more important, a good friend," the company said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Laura's family and loved ones at this terrible time."

Police said Mortimer may be driving a silver or light gray Toyota Highlander with Massachusetts license plate 81VJ58. Alerts about the vehicle post on electronic signs around Massachusetts Turnpike and other major highways.

Cara O'Brien, a spokeswoman for Leone, said investigators were asking the public to call police if they spotted the Toyota Highlander. She would not say what else investigators were doing to find Mortimer.

Police in Avon, Conn., were keeping a look out for Mortimer because he has relatives who live there.

Kenneth LaRocque, headmaster at the Avon Old Farms prep school, where Thomas Mortimer graduated in 1986, recalled him as "a very solid student and solid citizen," but one who did not stand out because he didn't take on leadership roles in sports, academics or other parts of student life.

Mortimer grew up close to the boarding school, so he lived at home instead of on campus.

His parents still live in the home, and Avon police were stationed there Thursday to watch for Mortimer's vehicle.